We often talk about a State/Commonwealth being red or blue -
but how is it determined how this is determined.
Now if :
1
Governor
2
Lt Governor ↑1↓
3
Majorityof State Senate
4
Majority of State Assembly
5
Majority of State Congressional group ↑2↓
6
Senior Senator
7
Junior Senator
8
Party that the State/Commonwealth went in the Presidential Election
↑1↓
Some States elect Governor and Lt on separate ballots
↓2↓
Exception if the group is evenly divided
I put the heaviest weight on how the state votes in a Presidential election, then the senators. The other factors are relevant but somewhat less determinative, IMO.
You can't get any more Red than Alabama and no more Blue than New York. I simply look at how they vote in the General Election and then makeup of their congress and Governor.
Here in NY - the state went for Clinton -
State Assembly is Dem (Rep hold a one vote lead in the Senate)
Our Congress delegation is10 R's and 17 D's.
Bus US Senators are Blue.
Here in NY State - normally the a Conservative Party member would caucus with the Republicans
and a Workers Family Party member wold caucus with the Democrats.
But we are a true third party!
The reason an independent or a third party will caucus with a major party - is so that you can have more of a say.
It would be political suicide not to caucus.
Also in addition - the Conservative Party helps keep the Republican Party in check
Here in NY, it is extremely difficult for a Republican to win Statewide election without be on the Conservative Party line.
That's still co-mingling with a major party. I understand why they caucus with a major party, but when they do that, they can pretty much be counted as Republican or Democrat for the purposes of determining how "red" or "blue" a state is.